That would mean getting away from Jill Farren Phelps, who he hailed as Y&R’s savior when the two landed in their top perches at CBS TV City, after being such great allies at Sony’s HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS.
“Josh [Griffith] was very uncaring and tacky when he did his interview with TV Guide soon after his former boss’s contract was not renewed, now it’s funny, he’s facing the same fate, and at the hands of the same woman, Jill Firing Phelps. He did not see it coming!
“Even though Josh is at work in the building today, he’s just a wreck. He’s previously had his door locked, and seemed as though he was having a breakdown, and Jill has been so uncaring, and telling everyone, she doesn't time to coddle people, and she is pressuring Sony execs to fire Griffith.” Highlight Hollywood spoke with a Sony insider on Friday who reported Griffith "has less than 15-days left on his contract. He’s starting vacation with his family next week, and Sony would ideally like to let it look like his decision after a vacation that he’s ready to move on. They are in talks with several writers right now, because after he returns from his vacation, there are only 6 days left on his contract,” the Sony Pictures insider said.
UPDATE #1:
According to Highlight Hollywood, head writer Josh Griffith has resigned from the show, E-mailing his team that he was leaving due to irreconcilable differences.
A source tells Soaps In Depth that veteran soap writer Shelly Altman, co-head writer on the current Y&R team, will move into the position. (Altman's previous positions include posts at ANOTHER WORLD, GENERAL HOSPITAL and ONE LIFE TO LIVE.) SID hears Altman's co-head writer could either be former AS THE WORLD TURNS head scribe Jean Passanante (currently on the GH team) or Tracy Thompson, another Y&R staff writer.
There has been no comment yet from Y&R.
A change of some kind was needed at Y&R but, if true, it is sad to hear this news today since the show is kicking off its goodbye to Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) storyline on Friday, August 16.
UPDATE #2:
Daytime Confidential is reporting that "GENERAL HOSPITAL breakdown writer Jean Passanante will co-head write THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS with Shelly Altman."
For nearly three decades Y&R was the one daytime soap opera that seemed immune from the constant backstage upheaval with rotating writers and producers that chipped away at the foundations of so many beloved shows. The past decade has not been kind to the legacy of the #1 Daytime Drama. Let's hope this latest change is a step in the right direction. But keep reading our "Today in Soap History" column every day because there is much to be learned from the past.
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